Toxic Trends Report* Cannabis November 10th, 2014

The month of October saw a large spike in marijuana exposures called into the Washington Poison Center. With only a handful of recreational marijuana stores open in the state, the majority of exposures likely result from marijuana obtained at medical marijuana dispensaries. “The medical marijuana industry is largely unregulated and not subject to the scrutiny and oversight by the Liquor Control Board that recreational marijuana must go through”, says Dr. Garrard, Clinical Managing Director of the Washington Poison Center. A large portion of patients seen in a healthcare facility for marijuana toxicity were able to be treated and released according to WAPC data. This report provides a running snapshot of current YTD exposure data and a pediatric age breakdown of the exposures being reported to the WAPC compared to 2013

*Disclaimer: Reporting of exposures to the poison center is voluntary and not mandated by law. As such, WAPC data describes the number of calls called into the poison center and most likely is an under-representation of the true occurrence of any one substance.

Call the Washington Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222 immediately for medical advice if you are worried about the health and safety of yourself, others or if your child has accidentally been exposed to liquid nicotine or an e-cigarette. All calls are free and confidential.

The Washington Poison Center (WAPC) provides immediate, free, and expert treatment advice and assistance on the telephone in case of exposure to poisonous, hazardous, or toxic substances. All calls are confidential.

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